Rip with 8 turnovers. He almost turn it over again towards the end. But got some help from the refs which eventually gave Rip 2 FTs to finish the CELTS off. Rivers went over and argue with the ref over that call, if I was not mistaken.

I know not trying and flipping the switch is the sole domain of that jerk Sheed, but when you read this quote and contrast how he played last night versus the rest of the season doesn't it make you wonder about 'ol 31?

Rip was just nasty (the way your Mom would use that word) in the first half. Terrible. How many high cross court passes can you throw in a row before you stop doing it? A: 8. But overall, we are just a better team when he's in the game and we are competitive. He gets the ball moving and is way less selfish than his reputation here IMO.

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For the several hundredth time, I am again over Rip. There were one or two plays last night when he really fought to get open - ran at full speed side to side, around screen after screen, and knocked down a few shots. Unfortunately, that's the way he used to run every play, not three per game. And I am so tired of the look-at-me techs. If he got mad and just reacted I'd be fine, but he picks them up deliberately, and always hurts the team.

Except for getting blocked 3 times, doing a little charging, and pumping up his offensive rebounding stats with what looked like intentional misses...

I know not trying and flipping the switch is the sole domain of that jerk Sheed, but when you read this quote and contrast how he played last night versus the rest of the season doesn't it make you wonder about 'ol 31?

For the several hundredth time, I am again over Rip. There were one or two plays last night when he really fought to get open - ran at full speed side to side, around screen after screen, and knocked down a few shots. Unfortunately, that's the way he used to run every play, not three per game. And I am so tired of the look-at-me techs.

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Rip engages defenders, makes them sweat. He is the only guard in Pistons roster capable of that . Not stuckey, not Iron Will, not Bengo.

In short - Rip is the only player in Pistons roster who by opponents is worth of doubleteaming.

And unlikely to Stuckey Rip reads the game well - very rarely he tries to force, usually passes when possible. that's why even struggling Rip hands out more assists than Stuckey in spite of the fact that Rip does not have ball so many times at his hands as Stuckey has.

Rip engages defenders, makes them sweat. He is the only guard in Pistons roster capable of that . Not stuckey, not Iron Will, not Bengo.

In short - Rip is the only player in Pistons roster who by opponents is worth of doubleteaming.

And unlikely to Stuckey Rip reads the game well - very rarely he tries to force, usually passes when possible. that's why even struggling Rip hands out more assists than Stuckey in spite of the fact that Rip does not have ball so many times at his hands as Stuckey has.

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Are you talking about Rip Hamilton? Gets double-teamed? Reads the game well? I haven't seen it.

“Our guys are frustrated right now, but I told them that we have to do something about this,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “I think we think that we’re a better team than we really are, and we’re trying to win games on cruise control.”
Wallace agreed.
“We’re not that team that can turn it on and off,” Wallace said. “Sometimes we think just because we’re the Celtics and we go into a team’s building that they’re going to back down. We’re a good team on paper, but other teams get up for us as a measuring stick.”

true. But opponents do not have to pay for it. Stuceky usually tries to bully his way towards basket and that is all.

Are you talking about Rip Hamilton? Gets double-teamed? Reads the game well? I haven't seen it.

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I'm not talking classical 2Xteaming, because of Rip is not iso player. What I meant was that containing Rip needs helluva work from opponents and Rip draws opponets who have to fight through the screens plus his initial defender. Lob passes to cutting bigs are the result.

of course, his game reading is not top 5 PG level but he reads it well.

Agree. Bengo, in his Chicago days, drew all of the defensive pressure. Part of the main reason DRose had such a hard time getting started this year. Bengo is a better shooter than Rip, Rip moves better without the ball.